List Tables and Fields…

When I’m designing a database I usually start off with one of my Templates. But, as with any Template, the Tables therein do not always fit exactly with the Client’s needs. And, since I like to document changes I built this tool…

In a nutshell…
After the Template database is created I import the Objects from the Tables and File List database. From there I can go to Design Mode of the Table, the little blue button, and make my changes, as well as, mark what changes I’ve made in the *Comments* column. Then I have a record of my changes and, just in case someone needs a hard copy, output the results to Excel (template included).

To use…
Download the Table and File List zipped file and unzip the contents to a Folder, not your Desktop. Then open the database you want to run this on and import the Objects into your database and place TableFieldList.xlsx into the same Folder as the database you want to use this in. Open frmTableFileList and click the Redo Command Button.

The blue button to the left opens the Table in Design Mode. (Thanks to Tony Toews’ database for giving me the idea to go directly to Design Mode from here instead to dealing with the Navigation Pane.)

I use the Check Box to indicate I cam done. Once checked the record (row) will turn light grey (helps me stay focused).

Blue boxes at the top are for filtering. Once making a selection and/or entering text, partial entries accepted, select the Filter button at the top, to clear select the Clear Filter button.

The code (in case your interested)…
Pretty standard except that it loops thru the Tables in MSysObjects so it does not require the individual input of each Table run. Nor do you need to create tblTableFieldList before running as it will look to see if it’s there. (One caveat, I did not adjust the Form to run without the query which needs the Table, never got around to it. So, if you attempt to open the Form before creating the Table you will get a message. However, in the sample provided there is a Table so no worries there.)

Function fncTableFieldList()
'7.15.2016 Gina Whipp (Access Diva)
'Purpose:  Write all table and field names to tblTableFieldList
     
    Dim lngTable As Long
    Dim lngField As Long
    Dim db As DAO.Database
    Dim rs As DAO.Recordset
    Dim tdf As DAO.TableDef
    Dim lngRow As Long
    Dim fld As DAO.Field
    Dim strTable As String
    
        Set db = CurrentDb
        
        strTable = "tblTableFieldList"
        
        If DCount("*", "MSysObjects", "Type = 1 AND Name='" & strTable & "'") = 0 Then
            'Create tblTableFieldList
            Set tdf = db.CreateTableDef("tblTableFieldList")

        With tdf
           'Autonumber
           Set fld = .CreateField("tflID", dbLong)
           fld.Attributes = dbAutoIncrField + dbFixedField
              .Fields.Append fld
              
              .Fields.Append .CreateField("tflTableName", dbText, 50)
              .Fields.Append .CreateField("tflFieldName", dbText, 50)
              .Fields.Append .CreateField("tflDataTypeID", dbLong)
              .Fields.Append .CreateField("tflSize", dbLong)
              .Fields.Append .CreateField("tflAttributeID", dbLong)
              .Fields.Append .CreateField("tflComment", dbText, 255)
              .Fields.Append .CreateField("tflExclude", dbBoolean)
        End With
            'Append new output table definition to database
            db.TableDefs.Append tdf
            Set fld = Nothing
            Set tdf = Nothing
            'Debug.Print "tblTableFieldList created."
            Application.RefreshDatabaseWindow
        Else
            'Empty tblTableFieldList
            strSQL = "DELETE tblTableFieldList.* FROM tblTableFieldList"
                      CurrentDb.Execute strSQL, dbFailOnError
            'Debug.Print "tblTableFieldList emptied."
        End If
        
        Set rs = db.OpenRecordset("tblTableFieldList", dbOpenDynaset)
    'Set on error in case there is no tables
    On Error Resume Next
    
    'Loop through all tables
    For lngTable = 0 To db.TableDefs.Count
        'Ignore temporary (~) and system tables (MSys)
        If Left(db.TableDefs(lngTable).Name, 1) = "~" Or _
            Left(db.TableDefs(lngTable).Name, 4) = "MSys" Then
        Else
            'Otherwise, loop through each table and get Primary Key
            For lngField = 0 To db.TableDefs(lngTable).Fields.Count - 1
            'Use this if you don't want Primary Key
            'For lngField = 1 To db.TableDefs(lngTable).Fields.Count - 1
                lngRow = lngRow + 1
                    rs.AddNew
                    rs!tflTableName = db.TableDefs(lngTable).Name
                    rs!tflFieldName = db.TableDefs(lngTable).Fields(lngField).Name
                    rs!tflDataTypeID = db.TableDefs(lngTable).Fields(lngField).Type
                    rs!tflSize = db.TableDefs(lngTable).Fields(lngField).Size
                    rs!tflAttributeID = db.TableDefs(lngTable).Fields(lngField).Attributes
                    rs.Update
            Next lngField
        End If
    Next lngTable
    'Resume error breaks
    On Error GoTo 0
     
    'Release from memory
    Set rs = Nothing
    Set db = Nothing
     
End Function
 

Enjoy!